What the Rivers Remember - by Harman Kaur (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For anyone carrying the stories their family could not say aloud.

Memory is a curious thing--alive, fluid, unreliable. It is carried in the body, passed through blood and water, shaped by what is remembered and what is left behind. What the Rivers Remember is a meditation on land and lineage, where rivers become archives of history long forgotten. Moving through inheritance, loss, and diaspora, these poems gather what has been scattered--names, dreams, stories--and listen for what still speaks. What emerges is an offering: a remembering shaped into music, a map made of water, a testament to how the land holds us, even after we have gone.

Review Quotes

Praise for Harman Kaur

"Call Me Home is both familiar and inviting, yet also unsettling and thought-provoking, striking all the right chords. I found reflections of my own life as a Sikh within many of the poems, while also being reminded that they offer a glimpse into others' experiences, enriching my understanding of the unknown. Each poem is powerful on its own, and together they create a cohesive journey that deepens our awareness of our interconnectedness." -- Simran Jeet Singh, national bestselling author of The Light We Give

"Call Me Home skillfully navigates the complexities of womanhood, illustrates the tumultuous nuance of grief, and explores the importance of facing the pain that awaits you. Those looking for a collection that carefully addresses how to be gentle with your inner child and how to move bravely through during difficult life transitions will find comfort and validation in Kaur's words -- you might even gain some direction on where to look to find yourself." -- ari b. cofer, author of paper girl and the knives that made her and unfold

"Call Me Home was a testament to the immigrant experience. It felt like a hand reaching out for you across a void you never thought you'd be able to cross. This is the book of poetry I wish I had growing up, something to remind me I'm not alone and that my experience isn't singular. As a Pakistani-American, Harman's words gave voice to feelings I've been trying to understand my whole life." - Hinnah Mian, author of Pangaea

About the Author

Harman Kaur is a Panjabi Sikh poet and writer whose work explores memory, migration, intergenerational silence, and identity. Through lyrical storytelling, she centers the voices of eldest daughters, immigrant families, and those living between languages and lands. Her poetry acts as preservation, protest, and prayer - writing toward a future where the stories of her people are no longer marginalized but amplified. Born and raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Kaur now resides in the Bay Area, California with her husband and two children. She is also the author of Phulkari and Call Me Home.